Holy hell! I've never experienced the swelling in my legs/ankles that I have in the past few days.
Any tips to help reduce it? I'm trying to sleep with legs propped up and also drinking lots of water.
I didn't know one's knee caps could get so freaking big!
Re: tips to help reduce the swelling?
I know how you feel. I gained 20 lbs in the last 3 weeks of my pregnancy from pre eclampsia and the post partum swelling was even worse after all of the IV fluids from my c-section. Rest assured what you are experiencing is normal. Do make sure to tell your doctor if one leg is more swollen than the other or if you're having pain in either lower extremity.
Buy some compression stockings. You can get either knee high or thigh high ones. Wear them 24/7. Keep you legs elevated when you can. You will eventually pee off the extra fluid.
My swelling was almost entirely gone by 2 weeks post partum.
It's sucks!
Ugh, I had forgotten about the swelling. It sucks but it's temporary. I think I changed my sheets daily for a while because I would sweat so much at night. Wear flip-flops, keep drinking lots of water, and take a picture because you might get a kick out of it later
I cannot recommend a post-partum massage enough. Seriously the best $120 I have spent. It was so worth it and I lost a TON (ok about 15lbs) of water weight within 2-3 days of having it and I felt a gazillion times better.
I was really worried about it since I did have a c/s, but she was awesome. Patti Hiemrich was the person I went to.
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Time.
I drank a ton (understatement) of water, ate really well...lots of fruits, veggies, lean proteins, etc., propped my feet, etc. but I am not sure any of that helped as much as time. By about 2 weeks pp I was looking pretty normal & a lot less puffy.
I'm not sure about pp swelling, but I've had the best luck by:
1) DO NOT wear flip flops. Your feet will continue to swell without restriction, which can cause your heels to crack. Trust me. Ow. Compression socks help, but can be uncomfortable (and expensive). My best luck has been with regular socks and supportive tennis shoes.
2) Don't stand/sit/lay in one place for too long. Add variety. I work at the computer and have to walk around for about 15 minutes every two hours or I swell badly. Also, lay on your left side if you have the opportunity some throughout the day.
3) Eat lots of fruit and consider taking potassium. This helps to flush your body out, and is a counteractive to salt in your diet.
Everyone will tell you to watch salt and drink water. I do that and still swell. It's hormonal and there is not a lot you can do to prevent it... but it will pass, even if it is uncomfortable for the time being. Good luck!
PG#1 - 3rd cycle BFP. Team Green. HELLP syndrome @ 34 weeks.
Later diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, possible link to HELLP.
PG#2 M/C 3/14 - Surprise BFP 2/13. Beta's doubled every 52 hours from 3w5d-5w5d
Viable pregnancy scan at 5w5d; 2nd u/s showed 2 days of growth in 7 but a HB of 120
3rd u/s on 3/10/14 had no HB and baby had only grown 7 days over 14
D&C 3/17/14 - complications - DX Retroflexed uterus, multiple tears to cervix
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